Your partner for a low carbon future
Phase 3a Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme
Air source heat pump, Insulated aluminium rainscreen overcladding with high performance integrated windows, Roof insulation, Double glazing, Solar PV
South East
NHS trust
grant value
estimated annual financial savings
estimated annual carbon savings
Our NHS operates under a high level of pressure and demand. One less spoken about challenge is the NHS long-term commitment to reach net zero by 2040 - a full decade ahead of UK and global targets.
With an aim to become the world’s first net zero national health service, our NHS became the first health system to embed net zero into legislation, through the Health and Care Act 2022. To reach their 2040 target, NHS stakeholders across the country have been undertaking decarbonisation programmes for years, with outcomes now being used to inform further works across the nation and beyond.
This was the case for East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, who are celebrating the completion of a particularly challenging scheme at Eastbourne District General Hospital. Now complete, this project is expected to save 4,129 tonnes in annual carbon emissions and £233,493 in yearly energy bills. A 4,129-tonne reduction in annual carbon emissions is equivalent to the annual emissions associated with 655 average UK households or carbon absorption capacity of 187,682 trees*.
The project worked to replace the old, gas-based heating system with an air source heat pump. Accompanying energy efficiency measures were incorporated through roof insulation and dry wall lining and double glazing.
Additionally, a large solar array was installed on their main staff car park. Energy generated through these means is being used to directly offset some of the additional capacity required to run the air source heat pump.
Experts believe that the combination of energy generated through the solar farm, coupled with the decarbonisation of the grid, will make it the first NHS hospital in the UK to be powered entirely through renewable energy. You can read more about this achievement through our news story.
To support the works, the trust was awarded £27.9 million through Phase 3a of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme. Our Salix teams deliver this funding on behalf of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.
We spoke with Mark Paice, assistant director of capital and property at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, to discuss how the trust overcame project challenges to achieve success.
Read on below as we discover more and share Mark’s learnings.
With NHS services required on a 24/7 basis, it’s not always plausible to shut down large spaces in the building while upgrades are installed. Both a phased approach as well as consistent communication have contributed to project success for Eastbourne.
Mark said: “We recognised that the project would have a significant impact on patients, colleagues and visitors. As the designs developed, we were keen to provide as much information as possible.
“To do this, we created information boards placed in prominent positions around the hospital to inform people about the positive impacts of the scheme and, in the early stages of the project, we prepared a ‘sample area’ where it was possible to see how the changes would look and invited people to visit and feedback their views.”
Thanks to the broad support and understanding from hospital staff, patients and visitors, it was a much more straightforward process to install the measures because the long-term positive impacts were recognised despite the short-term hindrance. This was seen as particularly beneficial amongst clinical staff and all those on the NHS frontline.
Mark added: “We worked with these clinical teams to develop an approach that limited impact but assured progress.
“This meant ensuring that when works need to be paused in clinical areas we were able to keep going working in other spaces, where access was less of a challenge, so that the program timescales were met.”
With the new technology operational, albeit later than originally planned, the trust is looking forward to seeing the upgrades in action and continuing the conversation with patients, staff and visitors about why these works are so important.
We recognised that the project would have a significant impact on patients, colleagues and visitors. As the designs developed, we were keen to provide as much information as possible.
*Carbon calculations have been generated through a tool created by our carbon and technical experts here at Salix. The intention is to provide carbon savings estimates to aid with a common understanding of emission data and statistics. These estimates are approximate; it is not recommended to use this tool for formal carbon emissions analysis. The tool uses UK government conversion factors alongside emissions estimates sourced from various studies, but it is possible a margin of error may exist. For more information about the formulas and methodology used in this tool, please contact us at [email protected]. E&OE.
